rogues+brogues : November 2015

rogues+brogues | Pall Mall Barbers

Mention Pall Mall and images of luxury come to mind (or Monopoly depending on your audience). Pall Mall Barbers combine luxury, quality and peerless service.

They kindly reached out to me to test their Sandalwood & Clove beard pack and with #Movember almost over, I'm sure there are plenty of guys out there who need help in taming and treating their newborn facial fuzz.

The Story
With 4 locations in Westminster, Bishopsgate, Trafalgar Square and Fitzrovia, Pall Mall Barbers are situated in prime spots in west London, a testament to the quality of their service and goods. Having been shortlisted for the GQ Grooming Awards 2015, they are at the top of their trade. Busy locations and a thriving product range combine to make a powerhouse in British barbering.

The Good

Excellent value for money, combining 2 high quality products and saving money on purchasing separately.
The beard oil has a handy pump top - one of my beard oil pet peeves is an open bottle. The user-friendly pump delivers drops without any mess.
A relatively heavy oil, it penetrates the beard hair easily and keeps it scented and strokeable for several hours after application.
Moustache wax is not just for novelty twirls, use it to tame stray hairs in your beard, moustache and even eyebrows.

The Bad
Clove is perhaps one of my least favourite smells. However, it has a traditional and masculine scent and will work well in winter.

The Price
£37.00 for the pack. Available online and in the barber shops.

If you are London-centric, pay a worthwhile visit to any of the barbershops for expert hair care and grooming. If (like me ) you are not based in London, make the most of their online shop for some excellent haircare, shaving and beard care products.

Thanks again to the team at Pall Mall Barbers and Mark at Mark Smith Media for the kind gift and editorial image

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, by Ian Megrath

cos

Cos SS16 Press Day

This time last week I was in Dublin for the Cos SS16 press launch.

I caught the 06.50 train to Dublin (the glamour of being a fashion blogger) and spent the 2hr journey catching up on my Kindle and planning how I was going to spend my limited time in the Irish capital.

I've been a fan of Cos for years but am disheartened that it still hasn't crossed the border to Belfast. The sophisticated big brother of H&M, they are renowned for their subtle and sleek collections, both formal and casual.

Held in the modern surroundings of the Kerlin Gallery, tucked in a side street off the main stomping ground of Grafton Street, the gallery allowed the collection to speak for itself and not compete for attention. Although that orange wallpaper is pretty damn awesome!

The pared-back palette, draped silhouettes and imaginative use of selected fabrics combine to make a fresh and forward new season offering. The core colours of soft greys and stones create a simple but versatile capsule collection. The occasional pop of muted tones, such as sage green and pale lemon add depth and variance.

Inspired by the traditional Mac, this city coat has a cropped length to refresh the familiar shape.

Wear this under a blazer for an alternative to the usual polo or shirt.

An unstructured lightweight blazer is always a smart investment for the spring/summer season.

The continuous line pattern is inspired by Scandinavian graphic design.

The slash neck and sombre shades makes these tops relevant without being too derivative of the Yeezy phenomenon.

3/4 length sleeves, mandarin collar and hidden button placket front evokes simple Japanese shapes.

It isn't easy being green, so opt for sage.

The ethos of the collection is reinterpretation of classics, using traditional fabrics in new ways or familiar silhouettes given alternative construction and materials.

Denim is used for summer suiting. An unstructured lapel-less jacket, inspired by traditional gi (martial arts clothing) and pleat-front trousers.

The mac silhouette has been given a modern reinterpretation by using sleek, translucent PVC. Fused seams and raw edges make it both practical and eye-catching.

Accessories fit the minimal Cos aesthetic, sticking to simple colour palettes and unfussy features. I don't normally wear black but the simple button front closure of this belt caught my eye.

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And for the ladies...

The palette was again muted, with blush pinks, nudes and soft bronzes.

Perhaps not office-appropriate, but this woven bandage dress is pure editorial gold!

This backless, satin dress in a sophisticated bronze is the perfect summer wedding guest dress.

I loved this modern geometric jewellery and was even more impressed when I found out the "jewels" were actually compressed denim!

Thanks to Cos Ireland and the team at Baluba for the invitation and for looking after me so well. A special shout out to Paris who talked me through the whole collection.

This was my first event south of the border and I'm determined it won't be my last!

*all photos property of rogues+brogues

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, by Ian Megrath

accessories

Get cape. Wear cape. Fly.

Autumn is always the most experimental and dynamic season in menswear. It's the time of year when we can try out something we wouldn't get away with any other time. Summer is too stark and bright and unforgiving. The dark nights bring an air of mystery so unusual layering and contrasting textures all add to the season.

With this in mind, the emergence of the blanket scarf and poncho in many men's campaigns brings added texture and alternative silhouette and will refresh a simple outfit. The trend was first seen with the Louis Vuitton Karakoram blanket scarf from a few seasons back. As normal, it takes a little while for this to translate across to the high street and diffusion lines, but is has since been expanded upon, becoming more refined, less actual blanket

Louis Vuitton Karakorum blanket

Burberry

Lewis Hodges' poncho at the recent West Coast Cooler Fashion Week men's night

It's a mix of the outdoors, the wild west and the nomad, all combining to a versatile accessory. It's an extension to your usual scarf or an alternative to a jacket or cardigan.

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Here's my edit of some of the best capes, ponchos and blanket scarves about at the minute.

Topman burgundy & navy checked cape

Zara reversible striped poncho

H&M double faced blanket scarf

I bought this the other week. ^

Cardamom Clothing brown herringbone tweed poncho

River Island striped tassel scarf cape

ASOS khaki & black blanket scarf

As much as I love the idea of a poncho or cape, I do feel it's a style for a taller guy.

But hell, who am I to dictate your style? Like it? The wear it and show them how it's done!

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, by Ian Megrath

designer

The Tessuti Box

With 11 stores across the midlands, Tessuti is one of England's leading style destinations, housing an impressive array of designer brands for men, women and kids. With renowned fashion labels such as Boss, Jacob Cohen, Vivienne Westwood and Paul Smith, it's more of a department store than a site.

Sadly, the stores have yet to reach across the Irish sea but the company kindly reached out to me with a fantastic box of goodies to introduce the brand & website to myself and my readers.

This attractive cigar box arrived packed to the brim with a selection of fashion and grooming products, representing a strong cross-section of the items available in-store and online.

Men Rock Shave Cream and Brush.

While I'm not a frequent shaver, I have a nostalgic fondness for badger brushes, making quite the bathroom feature collection.

Boss Black off-white pocket square.

Imagine this in a sharp dinner suit for New Year's Eve. Subtle and sophisticated.

Boss Orange Pioli polo shirt.
In soft, grey marl jersey, with a button down collar and chambray feature trim on the pocket, placket and sleeves, this is an every-season must have. Pair it with a chunky cardigan for a dressed-down autumn look.